Soil Bioengineering Takes Root

Soil bioengineering is an often misunderstood and maligned technology that has not always been given a fair trial. Moving away from reliance on hard structural solutions, engineers may find that using natural elements or a combination of structural and natural elements may be the best solution in treating watershed problems. Engineers should examine the evidence and make informed decisions on soil bioengineering, which can be just as complex as typical civil work. It is not a one-size-fits-all fix, but can be another tool in an engineers palette when dealing with rural, urban or suburban watershed problems.